LAHORE: Authorities announced appointment of more than 15 doctors and 115 postgraduate (PG) trainees on Tuesday after negotiations with Young Doctors Association (YDA) failed to reach agreement. Young doctors’ strike entered its eight day after their demands were not met by the authorities, continuing their boycott of duties at government hospitals in parts of the province. The association demands removal of provincial health secretary, Najam Ahmad Shah, and abolishment of his Centralised Induction Policy (CIP), which discriminates between practitioners from government and private backgrounds, with unfair treatment subjected to those who were part of the latter, according to the doctors. Patients and families are suffering due to lack of medical services available for those in need as the strike continues, while authorities have suspended 66 doctors thus far, with action taken against 70 others. YDA in a press conference on Sunday gave the authorities an ultimatum of 72 hours, after which they will cut short their duties in emergency wards.